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I nodded. “Depends on the version, but that’s the legend everyone remembers.” I glanced towards the lake. The moon stretched across it in broken pieces. “And then he came back.”

“That part’s bullshit,” Mason grunted.

“Obviously.”

“You literally just said it!”

“It’s called atmosphere. Try to keep up with the mystery and illusion.” I wiggled my fingers in the air. “But that’s what makes masks scary, isn’t it?”

Darius went still. Maybe because he understood I wasn’t talking about Jason anymore.

I smiled anyway. “Once somebody covers their face, you don’t know what’s underneath anymore.”

Trevor stared into the flames.

“You don’t know if they’re angry.” I took another step. “Scared.” Another. “Sad.” The fire popped. “Or maybe…” I lowered my voice. “…they’re standing right behind you.”

Mason screamed and half the circle screamed because Mason screamed. Then, all at once, everybody realized that no one was behind them and started yelling at me. I doubled over laughing.

“You fucking asshole!”

“I said no cursing!” Darius barked.

I pointed at him while still laughing. “That one was justified.”

Mason threw a marshmallow at me, and I caught it in my mouth.

“Mmm. Thank you.”

“You suck!” Mason continued to grumble.

“I’m beloved.”

“You’re annoying!”

“Yes. But also beloved.”

Darius shook his head but he was smiling again.

Later, when the flames had burned down to glowing red coals, we sent everybody back to their cabins. Cindy Lou Who took half the group. Darius took the louder boys, and I stayed behind with Trevor and Mason and Mason’s friend to drown the fire. We poured water over everything until steam hissed into the air.

Trevor handed me the empty bucket. “Jason’s still not scary.”

I looked at him. “No?”

“No.”

“What scares you?”

His expression changed. Barely. But enough that I wished I hadn’t asked.

I bumped his shoulder with mine. “Don’t answer that, kid. No worries.”

He looked at me and I shrugged.

“You don’t have to tell everybody everything just because they ask. No one’s entitled to your information.”

His mouth twisted. “You tell everybody everything.”